Bangkok: When the man with a charming smile and impeccable online profile reached out to 57-year-old Narakorn Tiyayon, a former Thai television news anchor, she never imagined she was about to fall for a sophisticated digital scam. It began innocently, Narakorn said, with a hello message on Facebook on 4 June 2025.
According to UN Women, Narakorn recounted in an interview on 11 November 2025 how she was slowly manipulated through a combination of emotional connection and financial deceit. The man, claiming to be a cryptocurrency investment expert, presented screenshots showing high returns along with his convincing Chinese ID and passport.
Weeks of daily interactions ensued on Facebook and the LINE messaging app, with the man engaging in thoughtful conversations. Narakorn started to envision a dream relationship with him, complete with a fantasy future.
The scammer eventually persuaded Narakorn to make small investments, demonstrating apparent profits from various platforms. “Seeing real money come back made it feel legitimate,” she explained, recalling how she earned small sums ranging from 5,000 baht to 8,000 baht.
However, on 27 August, when he proposed a $100,000 investment while claiming he would contribute $300,000, Narakorn became suspicious. Realizing the deception, she ceased communication and reported the incident to Facebook and the Stock Exchange Commission of Thailand.
Narakorn discovered that the scammer’s investment platform, Muropro, was fraudulent, redirecting her transactions through legitimate Thai crypto exchanges before vanishing into anonymous digital wallets. She later recognized the scam as part of a global “pig butchering” scheme involving psychological grooming and fake investment returns.
Despite the negative experience, Narakorn emphasized that anyone can fall victim to such scams. “People may think that romance scam victims were stupid or greedy,” she said. “But we simply have a heart and empathy. Our trust in people has been manipulated.”
Cybersecurity experts and UN Women highlight the increasing prevalence of online financial scams targeting women by exploiting emotional vulnerability. Authorities and civil society groups are advocating for enhanced digital literacy, education on digital safety, and multilateral efforts to combat scam centers near Thailand’s borders with Cambodia and Myanmar.
Narakorn is set to speak at a seminar on ending digital violence against women on 27 November, organized by the Embassy of Belgium in collaboration with UN Women and other partners. This event is part of the United Nations’ annual 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence. “I want people, especially women, to know that being cautious online isn’t paranoia. It’s protection,” Narakorn stated.